Member terms and conditions and privacy policy

Terms and conditions

We look forward to serving you as a Costco member. Your membership and the privileges and conditions of membership are described below. If you have any questions, please ask our member services personnel at any Costco membership counter, or contact your local warehouse.

Membership

• Any use of a Costco Wholesale Australia membership card is subject to the Costco Wholesale Australia Member Privileges and Conditions.
• Membership is available to all qualifying individuals 18 years of age and over.
• Costco reserves the right to refuse membership to any applicant and membership is revocable without cause.
• Membership is subject to any and all rules adopted by Costco including our privacy policies and practices, and they may be amended from time to time without notice.

Membership cards and fees

• Membership fee is for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of enrolment of the primary cardholder and entitles you to acquire products and services at any Costco location worldwide.
• Your card is valid at any Costco warehouse worldwide.
• Your membership card must have a card number and your photo to be valid. If your photo is not on your card, stop by the membership counter to have your photo taken and added to your card.
• If your card is ever lost or stolen, your picture prevents unauthorised use.
• Report lost or stolen cards to any Costco membership counter immediately, or contact your local warehouse.
• Memberships may be terminated at Costco’s discretion. Cards remain the property of Costco and must be returned upon request.
• Cards are not transferable.
• A free household card is available to a primary cardholder’s spouse, domestic partner or immediate family member over the age of 18 and living at the same address. You must only provide the householder member's details where you have their consent to do so. Household cardholders will be asked to present proof that they live at the same address as the primary cardholder.
• Business Primary cardholders can add up to 6 affiliate member cards. The Affiliate cards will be charged $65 for 12 months, prorated to the time of joining up until 2 months before expiry.
• You may bring up to two guests into the warehouse each time you shop. Though only Costco Members may purchase items. This includes electronic and cash payments.
• You will be required to show your membership card when entering any Costco warehouse and when checking out at a payment register. Photographs of membership cards cannot be used in warehouses in lieu of an actual membership card.
• Gold Star Members may purchase items in one transaction.
• Business and Executive Members may purchase items in two transactions.

Renewing, adding or deleting cards

• The primary member must authorise renewal or cardholder changes, including additions or deletions and is responsible for the membership.
• You will receive a renewal notice each year. Renewal fees are due no later than the last day of the month your membership expires.
• Membership renewal must be completed for all cardholders (including affiliate cards) on the membership when the renewal is processed.
• You will not receive new membership cards each year.
• Memberships renewed within 2 months after expiration of the current membership year will be extended for 12 months from the expiration date. Memberships renewed more than 2 months after such expiration will be extended for 12 months from the renewal date.

For new members from 01/02/2023, and for members who have opted in to automatic renewals:

• Your membership will renew automatically each year, unless you notify us that you do not want your membership to automatically renew.
• In conjunction with automatic renewal, we will update your card on the day that it expires. We will remind you of this payment before the expiry of each membership year, and we’ll contact you afterwards to confirm that the automatic renewal was successful. In processing your automatic membership renewal, we will use the most recent credit card information we have.
• You can opt out of automatic membership renewals, and may instead renew your membership in accordance with the paragraph below.

For members for whom automatic membership renewals do not apply:

• You will receive a renewal notice each year. Renewal fees are due no later than the last day of the month your membership expires. You may remit your renewal fee online at costco.com.au or at any Australian warehouse.
• Membership renewal must be completed for all cardholders on the membership when the renewal is processed. You will not receive new membership cards each year.
• Memberships renewed within 2 months after expiration of the current membership year will be extended for 12 months from the expiration date. Memberships renewed more than 2 months after such expiration will be extended for 12 months from the renewal date.

Executive Membership Terms and Conditions

Executive Members receive an annual 2% reward of up to $1,000* on qualified Costco purchases. Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.

How to qualify for the annual 2% reward and other Executive Member privileges:

Upgrade to an Executive Membership and receive an annual 2% reward. The Executive Membership fee is $130 per year. The upgrade fee is $65 per year. We will prorate the upgrade amount based on the months remaining in your current membership up until 2 months prior to your membership expiry.

Purchases made prior to upgrading are not eligible for the 2% reward. At your next renewal, you will be billed a total of $130 for your Executive Membership. To upgrade, visit the membership counter at any Costco warehouse.

Earning the 2% reward

• Costco Executive Members receive a 2% reward on qualified purchases (excluding GST) see calculation of 2% reward below.
• Reward is capped at and will not exceed $1,000 for any 12-month period.
• Only purchases made by the primary and active primary household cardholder on the account will apply toward the reward.
• Any items that have earned rewards and are then refunded, will lose the rewards earned. Refunds will be calculated on the most recent purchase of the item.
• The reward is not guaranteed to be equal to or greater than the Executive upgrade fee paid.
• Limit one Executive Membership per household or business.
• Purchases made prior to upgrade do not qualify for the 2% reward.
• If, at any time, the primary household cardholder is removed from the account, their purchases will not apply toward the reward.

Calculation of 2% reward

Reward is approximately 2% of pre-tax (GST) purchases (less refunds) of most merchandise purchased through: front-end registers, most ancillary business registers at Costco warehouses and Costco websites in Australia.

Rewards are not calculated:

• On purchases of fuel, bullion, pharmacy, Costco Shop Cards, charitable donations and at food courts.
• On membership fees.
• On miscellaneous fees, deposits and taxes, including sales tax and shipping; where prohibited by law or regulation.
• On purchases made by anyone other than the account's Primary or Primary Household Cardholder.
• And on certain other categories as determined at Costco's discretion, which may change without notice.

Issuing the 2% reward

• The 2% reward is issued by email to the primary member approximately 10 days prior to the member’s renewal date and reflects the reward earned up until the issue date.
• Purchases made after this date will be added to the following year's reward calculation.
• A member must be a current, paid Executive Member at the end of the membership year to be entitled to the reward.

Using the 2% reward

The reward notification is emailed to the primary member. Rewards totalling less than $1 will not be sent. The reward will be available to the primary member at the front-end registers and may be redeemed toward purchases of most merchandise through the front-end registers (not currently available at self-checkout) at Costco warehouses in Australia.

Rewards may not be used:

Refund or Downgrade from Executive Membership

To receive a refund for the current Executive upgrade fee, the membership must be cancelled or downgraded to a Gold Star or Business Membership. Any 2% reward accrued and issued and not yet redeemed, will be forfeited. Any 2% reward redeemed will be subtracted from the refund and forfeited to the extent it exceeds the amount of any refund. Any additional savings and services exclusively for Executive Members will be discontinued.

Return Policy For Change Of Mind*

• On membership: we will refund your membership fee in full at any time for any reason if you are dissatisfied.
• On merchandise for change of mind: should you change your mind for any reason regarding the purchase of any merchandise, we will refund the purchase price at any time on every product we sell with the following exceptions:

Prices

• Each item is marked with an item number or a UPC Code. The price of the item, along with the description and identifying number, is posted above the item.

Payment

• We welcome cash, debit/ATM cards, VISA & Mastercard and Applepay.
• Costco does not accept manufacturers’ discount coupons or other retail establishment discount coupons (other than those distributed by Costco).
• Costco does not accept cheques.
• For online purchases, all card payments are subject to authorisation by your card issuer. If your payment is not authorised, or for any other reason we are not able to take payment when we attempt to do so, we will not fulfil your order. For each order, our payment processor will make a pre-authorisation of no more than $1. We will generally release this immediately on successful pre-authorisation, however our payment processor may take longer (generally 2-8 days) to give effect to the release.

General policies

• Members are welcome to bring their children and up to two guests into the warehouse, however, only Costco members may purchase items.
• Parents are responsible for their children and should not leave them unattended.
• Members are responsible for their guests and other family members.
• It is Costco's intent to provide a shopping environment free from all forms of harassment and discrimination for employees, applicants, independent contractors, members and suppliers. We do not condone any form of harassment or discrimination.
• Costco reserves the right to inspect any carrier or container of any kind including without limitation any bag, backpack, briefcase, trolley, pram, stroller or buggy upon entering or leaving the warehouse and to refuse entry to anyone at our discretion.
• To ensure that all members are correctly charged for the merchandise purchased, all receipts and merchandise will be inspected as you leave the warehouse.
• Shirts and shoes are required.
• Liquor and tobacco sales cannot be made to minors.
• Animals are not permitted in Costco warehouses unless admission is required by applicable law.
• Only Costco trolleys are able to be used in the warehouse. Other retailer's trolleys are not designed for bulk goods and will not be allowed into the warehouse.

Privacy

• We respect your right to privacy and our Privacy Statement outlines our policies and practices in detail.
• Please obtain a copy from our membership counter, or view/read the privacy statement at costco.com.au

Enquiries

• For any enquiry please contact your local warehouse.